Help

Newsletter

Papa Jags get a special day with cubs at EverBank Field

Jason Richards tries to get his 22-month-old son, Jaxon, to eat during the Father's Day brunch in the Terrace Suite at EverBank Field on Sunday. Will.Dickey@Jacksonville.com

Josh Kraft (from left) joins his father-in-law, James Vick, and daughter, Scarlett Kraft, 2, in an expedition at EverBank Field after brunch.

Photos by Will.Dickey@Jacksonville.com Jackson Caputo, 2, gets a mouthful of ice cream with the help of his dad, John, during brunch in the Terrace Suite at EverBank Field on Sunday.

Will.Dickey@Jacksonville.com--06/16/13--Josh Kraft shows his daughter Scarlett, 2, the buffet as chef Kelly Tinkle looks on during a Father's Day brunch in the Terrace Suite at EverBank Field Sunday morning, June 16, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. (The Florida Times-Union, Will Dickey)

Josh Kraft wasn’t sure what his wife had planned for Father’s Day. He was just told to keep his day open.

Then Sunday morning, she gave him instructions: Take their daughter and his father-in-law and be at EverBank Field at 11 a.m.

“We didn’t know what we were in for,” Kraft said.

What it was was a Father’s Day brunch in the stadium’s Terrace Suite. So after they ate, Kraft and his father-in-law, James Vick. walked out onto the terrace overlooking the field, which was a perfect green but looked a bit surreal without a single line or mark of any kind.

Two-year-old Scarlett Kraft was perfectly happy with her immediate and temporary best friend, Jax Richards. He’s 22 months old and, yes, his full name is Jaxson, named after Jaguar mascot Jaxson de Ville.

“His father’s a huge Jaguar fan,” said Jax’s mom, Kim Monjure. “He saw it this morning on the website, so here we are.”

Scarlett and Jax were so interested in walking up and down the stadium steps that Dad had trouble convincing her to leave, even with the promise of ice cream.

The event was put on by Levy Restaurants, which handles the food for the premium spots in the stadium. And the Terrace Suite is a premium spot. It’s rented out for special occasions throughout the year, but to have access to it during a Jaguars game, you have to have season tickets in the sections just outside it in the south end zone.

At $3,375, or $375 a game, they’re the most expensive in the stadium. The meal was free for people who had purchased new season tickets, but most people paid: $32.95 for adults, $14.95 for children. But it was just a chance to spend time together: father and son, father and daughter.

“It’s pretty nice,” said Mike Field, as he sat eating brunch with his father, also Mike Field. “I have season tickets, but I don’t get up here much.”

“He just called me up and said ‘Hey, Dad, do you want to go to brunch at the stadium?’ ” Dad said.

“I just figured he wanted to hang out with the cheerleaders,” the son added.

There were members of the Roar there, available for photos. Though, truth be told, 22-month-old Jax Richards was far happier walking the steps with Scarlett than having his photo taken with Monica and Sam. (Members of the Roar use only first names to discourage contact by fans.)

The brunch was the first public event of its kind held at the Terrace Suite, said Ashley Stadt with Levy Restaurants. She said there were about 150 reservations, and that the company is considering similar events for New Year’s Eve and next year’s Mother’s Day, though no decisions have been made.

William Merriman, a longshoreman, was being treated to the meal by his daughter, Kimberly Edwards. He’s a serious fan, a Jaguars season ticket holder since day one, and often goes on the road for games. This year, he’s planning Denver, St. Louis, Seattle and Nashville.

“I love going, and I love those cities,” he said.

He’s seen the highs and lows, but likes the new direction the team is taking. But he’s hooked either way: “I’m a Jaguar for life.”

But for Sunday, he and Edwards were simply sharing a Father’s Day meal together, father and daughter. But there was more planned: a big family dinner that Mom was already working on.

“That’ll be this evening, Merriman said. “I need to digest this first.”